Frank Lampard a victim of ‘expectations’ after Chelsea’s heavy spending, claims Gary Neville
The Blues have opted to move on after 18 months under Lampard
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Your support makes all the difference.Gary Neville insists “expectations” cost Frank Lampard after Chelsea’s lavish outlay last summer following his sacking at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard has been dismissed by the Blues 18 months after taking over at the club where he became a legend of the English game.
The Blues have fallen off the pace in recent weeks, with one Premier League win in five games, which sees them sit in ninth place, though only five points off champions Liverpool in fourth.
And Neville maintains “results and inconsistent form” ultimately proved crucial to club’s the decision to part ways, with Lampard unable to maximise the use of an injection of talent last summer after splashing more than £200 million.
FOLLOW LIVE REACTION: Chelsea sack Lampard as Abramovich issues statement, with Thomas Tuchel to be appointed new manager
“Frank has had a short amount of time with a new set of players. He was given a period under a transfer embargo, it shielded him, he did a great job in that period but the minute they spent the money they did, it was always going to bring more expectation and we know what happens at Chelsea when expectation comes,” Neville told Sky Sports News.
“When you have one of the biggest budgets in the league and biggest spend, expectation comes with it and at Chelsea their approach to managers has been consistent and Frank knew that when he got the job.
“Frank won't want people to feel sorry for him, he'll have an understanding that he went into a club that has always been like this with managers. The results and inconsistent form has cost him. As a club legend we maybe all thought he'd get a bit more time.”
While Neville insists Lampard’s choice to move to Stamford Bridge at such an early stage of his managerial career was not a mistake.
“I don't believe it was too early, he had no choice,” Neville added. “It's OK everyone saying pick and choose, maybe he wasn't right, there was no way you turn it down if you're Frank Lampard. He's a better manager today than he was 17 months ago, I hope he's able to go and build a brilliant managerial career.
“I sit here with no feeling of sorry for Frank, or that he's done anything other than a good job. It's Chelsea... Frank has been exposed to Chelsea releasing managers every 12 to 18 months if things don't go as they want.
“I don't have any great deal of worry for Frank's career. Tuchel will be exposed to the exact same rules as Frank and we'll be saying the same about him in 18 months, two years.”
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